Tag Archives | Terrace Theater

Come join us for our next large group meeting! Our speakers will be David Bergland from Hoodstarter as well as members of the Save the Terrace leadership team! Dave Schendel is bringing in his amazing scale model and Alison Nguyen will be selling buttons and prints for the cause. Our fundraising efforts last month were a huge success, and we will be explaining what our next steps will be in the process of saving our beloved theater!

When the 1300 seat Terrace Theater opened in 1951, the spectacular venue was the most luxurious, comfortable and up-to-date theater in America. Local movie theater owners, Bill and Sydney Volk, spared no expense when they built their flagship overlooking the marshes on the west side of Crystal Lake. The architectural firm of Liebenberg and Kaplan designed the theater. In 1952, the Robbinsdale Post reported construction costs in excess of $750,000. The Terrace was equipped with a sunken den and fireplace, a television lounge, well furnished nursery rooms, deep and soft cushion seats, and background music throughout the theater. Considered a masterpiece of International-Style, The Terrace was one of the first ultramodern theaters in America. The Volk brothers planned the theater to serve all of the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. A guest register from 1952 contained signatures from 25,000 people in every state of the union, Canada and many foreign countries. Over the years necessary improvements were made. In the 1970’s, The Terrace was retrofitted with 70mm equipment and the theater created a niche for action packed movies. In 1987 the theater purchased by the Midcontinental Theater Company.

The auditorium was divided in half, and two small balconies were separated and turned into 300 seat screening rooms. The last movie played in 1999 and the windows boarded up. The Terrace has remained unoccupied ever since. The building is currently owned by an out of state property management company with no interest in the neighborhood, or the historic significance of the building. The Terrace Theater has been pulling at the heart strings of Robbinsdale and the surrounding area for almost 15 years. Nobody really understands why this community treasure has been allowed to haunt the hillside for so long.

Who is Save the Terrace?

A couple years ago local rocker, Adam Fesenmaier started a facebook group called, “Save the Terrace”. The group grew and currently has the support of at least 1500 local theater enthusiasts. In the summer of 2014, Alison Nguyen attracted attention to the cause Robbinsdale’s annual Whiz Bang Days. Her Terrace 2.0 Float brought in local media and reminded Whiz Bang crowds that it was time to do something with this amazing historic building. In January 2015, “Save the Terrace” took a few steps off the little screen and into the real world. Our efforts are currently being organized as part of the Robbinsdale Historical Society. We have also partnered with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and the Hennepin History Museum.

Meet the Author!Where: Barnes and Noble at Calhoun Village Shopping CenterWhen: July 19, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s library is Robbinsdale by local author Pete Richie. The pictorial history book, set to release July 7, 2014, uses black and white photographs to showcase Robbinsdale’s compelling history. You can pre-order on bn.com or get […]